Determination of Secretory IgA and Albumin in Saliva of Newborn Infants

Abstract

As a first line of defence against microbial invasion, secretory IgA (sIgA) is the dominant immunoglobulin on all mucosal surfaces. In this study sIgA was determined by radial immunodiffusion in saliva samples of 63 newborn infants divided into the following age groups: (1) 1 day and younger, (2) 2–10 days. Concentrations of sIgA and albumin as well as their relation to age, postprandial time, gestational age and birth weight were analysed. sIgA could be detected in 75.0% (group 1) and 77.1% (group 2) of the saliva samples with a mean concentration of 190.2 mg/l (group 1) and 216.4 mg/l (group 2). Differences failed to reach significance. Concentration of sIgA was found to be independent of age but positively related to the concentration of albumin in the same saliva sample. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that high levels of sIgA are found in saliva of newborn infants, indicating the existence of a competent oral mucosal immune system as early as within the first 10 days of life.

Imunoglobulina A secretora, proteínas totais e fluxo de saliva nas ulcerações aftosas recorrentes

“…A study carried out on salivary IgA-s levels in patients with RAU at the times of incipient and acute lesion, regression and complete cure, showed an increase in IgA-s at the acute period, and its reduction in periods of regression and cure, and for the women in the group, very discrepant results were noticed, in some of them salivary IgA-s levels were influenced by menstrual cycle and in others there were no such association 27 . This leads to this unreliable correlation between IgA-s salivary levels and the menstrual period, even in those with association between the menstrual cycle and recurrent aphthous ulcerations 28 . Our series had only one woman (of the 12 females in the group) who reported having aphthous ulcerations at the time of menstruation.…”

Secretory IgA, Salivary Peroxidase, and Catalase‐Mediated Microbicidal Activity during Hydrogen Peroxide Catabolism in Viridans Streptococci: Pathogen Coaggregation

“…Samples of unstimulated whole saliva were obtained from 7 infants and from 5 healthy adult volunteers, by use of a method described elsewhere [15]. All infants were inpatients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Nagano Children's Hospital, and all were receiving mothers' milk.…”

Maternal distress across the postnatal period is associated with infant secretory immunoglobulin A

“…SIgA, the predominant mucosal immunoglobulin, is often regarded as the first line of defense against invading pathogens (Bridgman et al, ). Antibodies produced in the salivary glands are thought to be indicative of mucosal immune competence (Gleeson & Cripps, ) and children's mucosal immune development (Seidel, Schulze, Kiess, Vogtmann, & Borte, ). Specifically, lower salivary sIgA levels have been associated with upper respiratory tract infections, periodontal disease, caries, wheezing, and allergic symptoms (Fagerås, Tomičić, Voor, Björkstén, & Jenmalm, ; Laurent, Stroud, Brush, D’Angelo, & Granger, ; Sandin et al, ).…”